Artist lands dream job after New Paltz

Amanda Reardon ’06 ’11g

“I am very lucky to have landed my dream job where I can share my ceramic knowledge and provide a creative outlet for my students.”

Did you always know you wanted to teach art?I started college knowing in all certainty that I wanted to be an art teacher. A few years into college, I fell in love with ceramics. With a gentle push and some positive encouragement from my professor, Anat Shiftan, I decided to double major. This was one of the best decisions of my life. I graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in K-12 art education, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ceramics. In 2011, I received my Master of Arts in art studio from SUNY New Paltz, as well.

My experiences throughout undergraduate, graduate, and in between definitely helped prepare me for my career. I am very lucky to have landed my dream job where I can share my ceramic knowledge and provide a creative outlet for my students. I absolutely love teaching. What I love most are my students, who inspire me in as many ways as I hope to inspire them. They are a constant challenge with constant rewards. It is so much fun to be able to share the medium I love with them and see what they come up with.

Who made an impact on you at SUNY New Paltz?Professor Anat Shiftan had a profound impact on my life as an artist, as well as a person. Anat took me under her wing and really motivated me to make meaningful and beautiful ceramic artworks. I admire her knowledge and honesty. She introduced me to artists who really affected my work and continue to inspire me. Her critiques were brutally honest and invaluable. I would leave the critique process more inquisitive than ever, which always led me in a good direction. After college, I worked as Anat’s assistant, which was a great experience. It helped me see a different side of art making, and also got me hooked on listening to NPR. I can now say we are friends.

Amanda’s now-husband Paul contacted the SUNY New Paltz Epic-Glee Club to organize a flash mob marriage proposal at Water Street Market this past May.

Do you remain engaged with SUNY New Paltz?I visit New Paltz often to casually walk around (both the village and the campus), as well as attend events. For the past two years, I have attended the annual New York State Art Teachers Association conference that takes place on campus. I try to attend the artist lecture series as often as possible. I was so happy to be able to meet and work with artist Richard Notkin when he was a visiting artist at SUNY New Paltz last year.

On a fun side note, I recently got married. My husband, then-fiancée, contacted the SUNY New Paltz Glee Club to make his vision come to fruition, and together, they orchestrated a flash mob proposal at Water Street Market this past May!

A message to current New Paltz students: I would love a student teacher from SUNY New Paltz. Send them my way!